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A prank played by a Nanaimo student on his friend which triggered their schools sprinkler system has resulted in the boy and his parents being ordered to pay $48,000 in damages.

On Jan. 17, 2012, Carson Dean, then a 14-year-old student attending Wellington Secondary School, decided to play a prank on his friend Ben Daniel during the lunch break.

Carson took his friends padlock and tried to attach it to the sprinkler head in the ceiling of one of the schools hallways.

Unfortunately the prank led to the schools entire sprinkler system being activated, causing extensive water damage in the school.

During the incident, the fire alarm went off and the entire school was evacuated. Carson went to the assembly area and confessed his involvement to a teacher.

The school district sued the boy and his parents, Cheryl and Kevin Dean, arguing that the boy was negligent and should have to pay for the water damage, which amounted to $48,000.

At trial, the parents argued that their son was not negligent and that the School Act does not impose liability unless the student intended to cause damage, which wasnt the case.

They also argued that their son was a normal, rambunctious and impulsive 14-year-old boy who wouldnt know how a sprinkler head was activated and would not have understood the risks.

But in a ruling released Thursday, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Shelley Fitzpatrick that while a school assumes care of a child dropped off at the school, the school also sets out certain behaviours expected of a child.

In the case of Carson, he was well aware of the ability to play with things and break them and also knew that he wasnt supposed to be attaching his friends padlock anywhere he wanted, said the judge.

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The $48,000 high school prank

From rags to rich: #39;poor but sexy #39; Berlin sheds its skin - reporter
Until recently post re-unification Berlin has been a symbol of German open-mindedness, liberalism, and alternative lifestyles. In the aftermath of the collap...

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From rags to rich: 'poor but sexy' Berlin sheds its skin - reporter - Video

Forest Overlap, Dip Treated, Reverse Apex Sheds For Sale
Matthew Biggs introduces the Forest Overlap, Dip Treated, Reverse Apex Sheds for sale on http://www.gardensite.co.uk/Forest_Sheds/

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Forest Overlap, Dip Treated, Reverse Apex Sheds For Sale - Video

A new study led by the University of Colorado is providing insights into the ways people experience pain, and manage it, through separate pathways in the brain.

The study, published this month in PLOS Biology, shows that when people use their thoughts to dull or enhance the experience of pain, the physical pain signal in the brain conveyed by nerves in the area of a wound, for example, and encoded in multiple regions in the cerebrum does not actually change.

Rather, the act of using thoughts to modulate pain, a technique termed "cognitive self-regulation," commonly used to manage chronic pain, works by way of a separate neural pathway.

The study is credited with showing that the processing of pain in our brains goes beyond the mere physical pain signal and underscores a better understanding among neuroscientists that there is not a single pain system in the brain.

"We found that there are two different pathways in our brains that contribute to the pain experience," Choong-Wan Woo, lead author of the study and a doctoral student in CU's Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, stated in a news release.

"One way to say it is maybe it's not as important what the sensation is or the immediate pain response is, but it's important how you think about it," Tor Wager, a co-author on the study and associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at CU, said in an interview.

The first pathway mediates the effects of turning up the intensity of painful stimulation and includes regions of the brain such as the anterior cingulate cortex. The second pathway, discovered in the new study, mediates the effects of cognitive regulation and involves boosting activity in the medial prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens regions of the brain linked to emotion and motivation, but not typically responsive to physical pain.

This latter pathway may hold some of the keys to understanding the "emotional" aspects of pain, which can contribute substantially to long-term pain and disability.

"This pathway is really interesting in terms of what pain is and what it means," Wager said. "It doesn't change in activity if you turn up the heat and deliver pain. Its changes are more complex.

"It's really capturing the significance that you assign to pain, and to other emotional events. It turns out to be important not only for pain, but how you value things in life, how much you want or don't want, and when you generate emotional responses. It's also very important to depression, PTSD, and it's important across a range of emotion-related disorders."

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CU-Boulder study sheds light on brain's processing of pain

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Living in "tiny houses" is a popular down-sizing trend that's taking place across the country. So, how would you like to live in a tiny home?

A locally owned company called Affordable Portable Structures just came out with a whole new category of building options for Central Texas. It's called TexasEZLog. Floor plans range in size from a playhouse to an eight bedroom tiny home. 500, 800 even 1000 square feet. They claim to be not only functional but affordable.

"These things, there are so many different uses. This model, we have many people buying it for offices, artists, artist studios, exercise room. The versatility of this product is just, anything you can think of. Pool cabanas. You name it, we have it and we can provide it for you," say Jerry Fryer, TexasEZLog.

The interesting thing, is that they have partnered with Habitat for Humanity and Mobile Loaves and Fishes, helping our area's homeless population get back on their feet.

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Tiny homes becoming popular in Central Texas

Coldwell Banker hosted a broker-only open house, complete with new Maseratis, last spring for this $3,799,000 home in Franklin Lakes.

The setting: a luxurious home late last spring in Franklin Lakes, complete with a hand-chiseled granite facade, a high-end golf simulator in the basement, and the newest line of Maseratis displayed on the grounds, courtesy of a local dealer.

The goal: showcase the house to 170 brokers with deep-pocket clients who might be in the market for a home in Bergen County priced at $3.7 million.

One of the $25 million properties listed in Bergen County is the stately Gloria Crest Estate in Englewood.

An aerial view of a 29-room Franklin Lakes mansion, which is listed at $15 million.

The foyer of the Franklin Lakes home listed at $15 million features a domed center with hand-painted ceiling.

This 10,000 square-foot brick manor in Alpine features a two-story great room and is listed at $5.298 million.

A $13.9 million home in Saddle River offers indoor and outdoor pools, a tennis court, a 10-stall barn, a four-bedroom guesthouse and a six-car garage.

Events like this are among the marketing tools real estate agents in the luxury market use to get their homes in front of potential buyers, who have their pick of high-end locales and amenities.

Though the economic downturn has hurt the sales and prices of luxury homes like the rest of the market, economists and Bergen County Realtors say they are starting to see an uptick in some areas in the number of homes available, and in interest.

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Luxury-home market picks up

Rezoning, variances to be required for conversion of Dolce hotel to indoor water park; Great Wolf Lodge pitches increased tax income for PTC, Fayette

The nations largest chain of family-oriented, indoor water park resorts has its sights set on Peachtree City the very heart of Peachtree City. Great Wolf Lodge Family Resorts is proposing to expand the facilities on the 38-acre site currently occupied by the Dolce Atlanta-Peachtree Hotel and Resort on Aberdeen Parkway.

The proposal by Great Wolf Lodge of Georgia LLC requests the rezoning of the 38.4-acre property from GC (general commercial) to LUC (limited use commercial) to redevelop the property. In addition to the water park and hotel, the application states that the property will include specialty restaurants, arcades, spas, fitness rooms and childrens activity areas.

Great Wolf Lodge currently operates 13 family-oriented, all-suites water park resorts. The only facility in the Southeast is located in Charlotte, N.C. The Charlotte resort offers a variety of suites for 4-8 people and ranges in price from $199-400 per day.

Dolce Atlanta-Peachtree currently operates the facility that includes 236 rooms and 65 meeting rooms in 178,593 sq. ft. of convention center space along with swimming pools, restaurants and tennis courts.

Great Wolf is proposing to operate a family-oriented destination resort operating from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. each day which would include 398 guest rooms and a total of 173,615 sq. ft. of entertainment, retail, restaurant, meeting and support space.

The property is located on Aberdeen Parkway approximately 900 feet from Ga. Highway 74 North.

Adjacent property includes GR (general residential) to the north, GC (general commercial) to the west which includes the Hilton Garden Inn, LUC-3 (limited use commercial) to the south with Riley Parkway and adjacent residences to the east.

City Manager Jim Pennington on Saturday said he believes the Dolce property has been on the market for at least the past two years. No city official has commented publicly on the proposed development or on its chances for approval by the City Council.

Beyond the existing hotel and conference center buildings spread throughout the 38-acre property, Great Wolf is proposing to add a 54,800 sq. ft. indoor water park connected to the current conference center, a three-story hotel on the north side of the site, increased parking, two additional stormwater ponds and a possible patio off one of the existing restaurants.

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Amusement park to make big splash in heart of PTC?

MARTIN LUTHER KING

Dr. Martin Luther King Program. 6:30 p.m. Today. Dinner will be served after the program by the Willing Workers of St Mark Baptist Church. 545 Lakehurst Rd, Pemberton Twp. 609-893-6744

Volunteers for Martin Luther King Day of Service. 9 a.m.-noon. Mon. Volunteers of all ages and abilities may participate at the Dr. James Still Historic Site and Education Center for yard cleanup, gardening, painting and other activities aimed at maintaining and improving the historic facility. Followed by a pizza lunch. 109-111 Church Rd, Medford. Register, 609-975-8754, drstillcenter@gmail.com Information, medfordhistory.org

Cozies 4 Chemo MLK Day of Service. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Jan 19. The nonprofit that provides hand-tied fleece blankets to cancer patients throughout the US and Canada and has donated 2,169 blankets since March 2012 is having the biggest blanket-making event of the year. Donations are welcomed. Ramblewood Country Club, 200 Country Club Pkwy, Mt Laurel. Must register, cozies4chemo.org

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Celebrate African American Literary. 2 p.m. Feb 1. This "Read In Chain" includes members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority sharing their favorite readings from black authors; refreshments will be served. Willingboro Library,220 Willingboro Pkwy. Free. 609-877-6668. Willingboro.org

Dare to Be a Dreamer. 6:30 p.m. Feb 2. Motivational speakers and mentors. Ages 13-19. Willingboro Library, 220 Willingboro Pkwy. Free. 609-877-6668. willingboro.org

Journey On the Underground Railroad. 6:30 p.m. Feb 4. Experience the Underground Railroad in this interactive program presented by the Underground Railroad Museum of Burlington County. Willingboro Library, 220 Willingboro Pkwy. Free. 609-877-6668. willingboro.org

Black History Gala. 2 p.m. Feb 7. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Zeta Delta Chapter and Willingboro Library will co-sponsor an afternoon of cultural activities. No registration required and light refreshments served. Willingboro Library, 220 Willingboro Pkwy. Free. 609-877-6668. willingboro.org

African Heritage Film Festival. 6:30 p.m. Feb 12. Willingboro Public Library and the Rancocas Valley Chapter of The Links, Inc. present a documentary film. Light refreshments served. Willingboro Library, 220 Willingboro Pkwy. Free. 609-877-6668. Willingboro.org

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Hometown News Calendar for Week of January 18, 2015

January 18, 2015 7:51 PM Share with others:

By Clarece Polke / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Just days after police charged McKeesport resident Ryan Williams with homicide for a fatal October fire, family members of the six victims organized a memorial service this evening to honor their loved ones.

Stuffed animals, toys, glass candles and rocks painted with the names of the victims covered the front steps and much of the lawn of the charred home at 310 Express Alley. More than 50 people gathered as several family members spoke out against the "act of hate" that killed Ronald Egenlauf, 55; Hope Jordan Egenlauf, 27; and children, Dominic Jordan, 7; Autumn Jordan, 6; Serenity Jakub, 3; and Victoria Jordan, 2.

"May the coward who chose to steal so much from so many people get the justice he deserves," said Emma Ackerman, aunt of Keith Egenlauf, who survived the fire but was critically injured.

Keith's mother, Laverne Egenlauf, said, months later, her family is still coping with the repercussions of the fire. Her son is still undergoing treatment for some of his burns, she said, and the family has struggled to find relief to cover his medical bills.

"At least we've got some kind of relief knowing that man is behind bars, but it still hurts," she said. "Every day, it hurts. Keith has nothing to come home to."

Family friend Kasey Cavanaugh, who lived just two blocks away from the Egenlaufs, said much of the small McKeesport neighborhood turned out to pay respects.

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McKeesport family gathers to honor victims of fire